The successful pilot of a system that allows patients to view and update their own medical records is set to be rolled out to benefit more people receiving long-term care.

The myhealth@QEHB portal was trailed by liver patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) and is now due to be phased in throughout 12 other specialties.

Early feedback suggests the innovative system gives patients more control over their care, improves their experience and, in particular for those who have complex conditions and undergo regular tests, makes their life much easier.

myhealth@QEHB was developed in-house by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the QEHB. The Informatics team involved patients and clinicians at every stage to ensure they delivered a system that best suited the needs and expectations of the people who use it on a day-to-day basis.

It reflects the ‘No decision about me, without me’ principle to give patients high-quality information and support to allow informed choice and shared decision-making.

Daniel Ray, UHB’s Director of Informatics, said: “There’s nothing really like this anywhere else in the UK. It’s leading-edge patient portal that supports the delivery of high quality care through increased knowledge, support and communication.

“A significant number of people stand to benefit from it in years to come as we roll it out to them.”

Using real patient records and with greater functionality than other large-scale, web-based health portals, myhealth@QEHB allows patients in long-term care to remotely access, via the internet, information held by the Trust, including test results, letters, medication details, as well as past and future outpatient appointments.

The system is updated on a daily basis and can be accessed in any location, so patients could view it even if they are on holiday.

If they choose, individuals can also interact with each other within the portal and create their own support networks. It has the potential to be a social network for the NHS: giving greater patient satisfaction, improving adherence and resulting in better outcomes.

In practical terms, it could allow a diabetic patient to log their blood sugar levels remotely and receive an alert to tell them or their carer that it’s time to take medication.

Daniel said: “That’s just one small example of how the use of technology could contribute in saving on the high cost of acute intervention. It’s this kind of support in the home that will allow people to live fuller, more informed, more enjoyable and potentially longer lives.”

myhealth@QEHB was trialled by liver patients, under the supervision of Consultant Hepatologist James Ferguson, who says the system is a perfect use of modern technology to improve patient care.

“Many of my patients have to travel a great distance for their care in Birmingham and I believe they should have access to their own records,” he said. “It is their health and they deserve the right to see their letters and blood results in an accessible format.

“The system may also improve communication between healthcare professionals, as a patient will be able to show their record to any doctor or nurse they choose.

“Most importantly, I hope the system will improve patients’ understanding of their condition and its management. There will be links to reliable information about their treatment and condition and they can build networks with people who may be going through something similar.”

From late July 2012, patients being treated in the following specialties will be offered access to the portal in a phased roll-out:

• Diabetes
• Long-term cancer survivors
• Bronchiectasis service
• Complex inherited bone diseases
• Cardiology
• HIV
• Liver Medicine (rest of service)
• Renal
• Urology
• Prostate cancer
• Haematology
• Rheumatology
• IMD

myhealth@QEHB uses security systems similar to those used for internet banking. A patient’s information only goes onto myhealth@QEHB once they have signed up and they can have all of the information removed if they change their mind.

Patients without internet access who wish to sign up can nominate a friend, family member or carer to act on their behalf.